The South Hams gets ready for the local elections

With the days counting down until the district turns out to vote, South Hams District Council is working to ensure everything is ready ahead of the local elections on 4 May.

This year's elections will see South Hams residents vote on district council seats, as well as some town and parish councils. Staff at the District Council have been getting things ready for polling day, including processing nomination papers, appointing and training around 430 staff for its polling stations, updating the electoral register, processing applications for postal and proxy votes and more.

The Council is also working to make this election the most accessible ever, with polling booths with wheelchair access, ramps where available, large print sample ballot papers and magnifiers, tactile voting devices, reserved disabled parking where available and further considerations being made at polling stations.

South Hams Returning Officer, Andy Bates, said: "Our officers will make sure that everything is ready ahead of 4 May, when the district turns out to vote. We want this election to be the most accessible vote ever."

If you need to register to vote, the deadline is 11.59 p.m. on Monday 17 April. Applications for postal votes close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday 18 April. Find out more on how to register by visiting: gov.uk/register-to-vote

The biggest change to elections this year is the need for people voting in person to bring a form of photo identification with them. This ID could be your passport, driving licence or blue badge, but there are lots of forms of ID that will be accepted. Find out more about what ID is acceptable here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id

If you don't have a photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on the government's website by Tuesday 25 April. Visit gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate for more information.

If you know someone who does not have access to a computer and needs extra support, they can contact the Council's elections team on 01803 861434, to book an appointment to help complete their application for Voter ID online or at the Council offices at Follaton House in Totnes.